Well, my friends, we are officially a few days into the New Year! Welcome to 2023!
It wouldn’t be the first week of January without the quintessential “resolutions” conversation.
Will you indulge me for a minute?
First off, let me ask…do you make yearly New Year’s Resolutions? I personally have made many over the years. Unfortunately, I have not accomplished nearly as many as I’ve set.
Perhaps you can relate?
Making “New Year’s Resolutions” is a time-honored tradition that encourages us to reflect on our lives and set goals for the upcoming year.
- How do I hope to be “better” in 2023?
- What habits will I add?
- What behaviors must I let go of?
You know the drill. The concept of creating resolutions is a good one!
(Side note: if you aren’t sure how to answer these questions, I’d highly encourage you to PAUSE and take some time for reflection. Here are a few guided exercises to get you started.)
So why do so many of us struggle to actually maintain and achieve our resolutions? Why have your very well-intentioned resolutions failed in the past?
Here are a few likely reasons:
- Resolve doesn’t equal commitment:
Here’s the reality…just because you “resolve” to do something, doesn’t guarantee achievement. Success is born from a continued commitment to do the work required to achieve your goals. Practice. Persistence. Patience.
For many of us, resolutions are made with the best of intentions, but unless each resolution is matched with an equal level of commitment, it’s unlikely that your goal will be achieved.
- You chose too many resolutions:
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “He bit off more than he could chew.” There is wisdom in this adage. Often people struggle to remain committed to their New Year’s resolutions simply because they’ve taken on more than they can realistically commit to.
This year, instead of setting a handful of resolutions, choose one that you really commit to achieving and focus on that.
- Your resolutions lacked a clear purpose:
You’ve probably heard people talk about “defining your WHY.” Simon Sinek is particularly well-known for his work surrounding having a defined purpose or “why” for the goals that you set.
In order to be achievable, goals and resolutions must have a purpose beyond the endpoint (losing 10 pounds, getting a raise, working out). Why do any of these changes matter in your life? Knowing the deeper purpose and meaning for YOU will serve as an important motivator when staying consistent gets tougher (and it will.)
- You have unrealistic expectations:
Many individuals set goals that are simply unrealistic. Perhaps you’ve found yourself hoping for immediate results for a resolution that will, in all reality, take months to achieve. Or maybe your timeline is actually too slow for you to stay interested and motivated.
As you choose your resolutions, make sure the parameters surrounding your goal (timeline, access to resources, etc.) are realistic and achievable. Again: Practice. Persistence. Patience.
- You didn’t track your progress:
Goal achievement doesn’t happen overnight. Results don’t appear at the drop of a hat. True success (toward any goal) can be measured in small, incremental steps.
However, if you don’t track your progress, you won’t know whether or not you are achieving the results you desire. It can be easy to lose motivation or become distracted along the way without tangible results that keep you on track.
Let’s make this the year that you actually achieve your resolutions! At the end of 2023, when you reflect on your goals, I want you to be able to say, “I did it!”
If you’d like some support in choosing a purposeful and achievable resolution or in creating a strategic approach that makes achievement possible, click here to sign up for a strategy call.
In the meantime, I wish you the very best in this upcoming year.
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
